Backup for Food Trucks
Quiet backup for POS, lighting, refrigeration support and service continuity when generator use is noisy, restricted or overkill.
Problem to solve
- Outdoor trading depends on POS, menu displays, lighting and refrigeration.
- A generator may be too loud for customer-facing areas or not allowed in some event spaces.
- Cooking appliances are usually high-load; treat them separately from essential service backup.
Typical consumption
| Load | Typical watts | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| POS / card terminal | 20-60W | Continuous |
| Menu display / tablet | 30-100W | Continuous |
| LED lighting | 50-180W | Can be reduced |
| Fridge / cooler | 120-350W average | Compressor cycles |
| Water pump | 40-120W | Intermittent |
| Cooking equipment | 1000-3000W+ | Separate review |
Autonomia
| Level | Load range | What it covers | Recommended solution | Autonomia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 250-500W | POS, lighting, router/hotspot, one cooler | 2 kWh station class | 4-7h typical |
| Advanced | 500-900W | Multiple coolers, lighting and service electronics | 3-5 kWh high-capacity station class | 5-9h typical |
| Event Day | 900W+ | Long service window with several critical loads | 3-5 kWh station + solar / assisted proposal | Depends on duty cycle |
Technical notes before buying
- Use battery power for quiet critical loads and keep fuel generator only for cooking or very high loads if needed.
- Solar helps between service windows, but shaded festival areas reduce real production.
Build a real autonomy estimate
Add each device, set the quantity and daily hours. The calculator totals your energy need, compares the available power station classes and shows how solar input changes the picture.